الرَّوْضُthe garden بَيْنَbetween مُتَوَّجٍcrowned وَمُشَنَّفِand adorned with earrings
الرَّوْضُ بَيْنَ مُتَوَّجٍ وَمُشَنَّفِ
وَالأرْضُand the earth بَيْنَbetween مُدبَّجٍbrocaded وَمُفَوَّفِand stripe-patterned
وَالأرْضُ بَيْنَ مُدبَّجٍ وَمُفَوَّفِ
The garden is part crowned, part adorned with earrings;
The garden amid the crowned and shaded trees,
and the earth is part brocaded, part striped.
The land between the embroidered and folded drapes.
وَالْغُصْنُand the branch غَنَّاهُsang to it الْحَمامُthe doves فَهَزَّهُso swayed it
وَالْغُصْنُ غَنَّاهُ الْحَمامُ فَهَزَّهُ
طَرَباًin rapture وَحَيَّاهُand greeted it الغَمامُthe clouds بِقَرْقَفِwith wine
طَرَباً وَحَيَّاهُ الغَمامُ بِقَرْقَفِ
And the branch—the doves sang to it and set it swaying
The branch - the doves sang to it, so it swayed
in rapture, and the clouds greeted it with wine.
Happily, and the clouds greeted it with thunder.
وَالظِّلُّand the shade يَسْبَحُswims فِيin الغَديرِthe pool كَأنَّهُas though it were
وَالظِّلُّ يَسْبَحُ فِي الغَديرِ كَأنَّهُ
صَدَأٌrust يَلُوحُappears عَلىupon حُسامٍa sword مُرْهَفِkeen-edged
صَدَأٌ يَلُوحُ عَلى حُسامٍ مُرْهَفِ
And the shade swims in the pool, as though it were
The shade swims in the pond as if it were
rust showing upon a keen-edged sword.
Rust flashing on a polished sword.
قِسْcompare بِالسَّماءِwith heaven الأرْضَthe earth تَعْلَمْyou will know أَنَّهاthat it
قِسْ بِالسَّماءِ الأرْضَ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّها
بِكَواكِبِwith the stars of الأزْهارِthe flowers أَحْسَنُmore beautiful زُخْرُفِadornment
بِكَواكِبِ الأزْهارِ أَحْسَنُ زُخْرُفِ
Compare the earth with heaven: you will know that it,
Compare the ground to the sky and you will know
with its stars of flowers, is more beautifully adorned.
With flowers' stars it is the best ornament.
أحْداقُthe pupils of نَرْجِسِهاits narcissi بِخَدِّat the cheek of شَقِيقِهاits anemones
أحْداقُ نَرْجِسِها بِخَدِّ شَقِيقِها
مَبْهوتَةُastonished لِجمَالِهِby its beauty لَمْnot تُطْرَفِblink
مَبْهوتَةُ لِجمَالِهِ لَمْ تُطْرَفِ
The eyes of its narcissi, before the cheek of its anemones,
The narcissi's cheeks next to the poppies' cheeks
are stunned by that beauty and have not blinked.
Are amazed by their beauty, unblinking.
وَالطَّلُّand the dew فِيin زَهْرِthe blossoms of الأقَاحِthe chrysanthemums كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالطَّلُّ فِي زَهْرِ الأقَاحِ كَأَنَّهُ
ظَلْمٌsaliva تَرَقْرَقَshimmered فِيamong ثَناياthe front teeth of مَرْشَفِa kissable mouth
ظَلْمٌ تَرَقْرَقَ فِي ثَنايا مَرْشَفِ
And the dew in the chrysanthemum blossoms seems like
The shadow in the chamomile flower is like
saliva shimmering among the front teeth of a kissable mouth.
Darkness flickering in the folds of a curtain.
راقَwas delightful الزَّمانُthe time وَراقَand was delightful كَأْسُthe cup of مُدامناour wine
راقَ الزَّمانُ وَراقَ كَأْسُ مُدامنا
وَرُضابُand the saliva of ساقيناour cupbearer الأَغَنِّsweetly nasal-voiced الأَهْيَفِslender
وَرُضابُ ساقينا الأَغَنِّ الأَهْيَفِ
The time was delightful, as were our cup of wine
Time passed and passed like our cup of wine
and the saliva of our sweet-voiced, slender cupbearer.
And the pouring of our singer, so gentle.
فَمَزْجتُso I mixed ذاكَthat بِهذِهِwith this وَشَرِبْتُهاand I drank it
فَمَزْجتُ ذاكَ بِهذِهِ وَشَرِبْتُها
وَلَثَمْتُهُand I kissed him وَضمَمْتُهُand I embraced him بِتَعَطُّفِwith tenderness
وَلَثَمْتُهُ وَضمَمْتُهُ بِتَعَطُّفِ
So I mixed that with this and drank it,
So I mixed that with this and drank it,
and kissed him and embraced him tenderly.
And kissed it and drew it close gently.
وَجَنَيْتُand I gathered مِنْfrom وَجَناتِهِhis cheeks لَمَّاwhen اسْتَحىhe blushed
وَجَنَيْتُ مِنْ وَجَناتِهِ لَمَّا اسْتَحى
وَرْداًroses بِغَيْرby other than مَراشِفيmy lips لَمْnot يُقْطَفِbe plucked
وَرْداً بِغَيْر مَراشِفي لَمْ يُقْطَفِ
And I gathered from his cheeks, when he blushed,
And I plucked from its gardens, when it was shy,
roses unplucked by any lips but mine.
Roses unpicked, on beds unslept.
وَرَناand he gazed إلَيَّat me بِطَرْفِهِwith his gaze فَكَأنَّماso it was as though
وَرَنا إلَيَّ بِطَرْفِهِ فَكَأنَّما
أَهْدَىgave as a gift السَّقامَsickness لُمِدْنَفٍto one ailing مِنfrom مُدْنَفِone ailing
أَهْدَى السَّقامَ لُمِدْنَفٍ مِن مُدْنَفِ
And he gazed at me with his eyes, as though
And it glanced at me, so it was as if
he gifted sickness to one ailing, from another ailing.
It gave sickness to one enfeebled by sickness.
بِتْناwe spent the night وَقَدand already لَفَّwrapped الْعِناقُthe embrace جُسومَناour bodies
بِتْنا وَقَد لَفَّ الْعِناقُ جُسومَنا
فِيin بُرْدَتَيْنِtwo mantles تَكَرُّمٍnobility وَتَعَفُّفِand chastity
فِي بُرْدَتَيْنِ تَكَرُّمٍ وَتَعَفُّفِ
We spent the night, the embrace having wrapped our bodies
We spent the night, and embraces covered our bodies
in two mantles of nobility and chastity,
In the garb of generosity and chastity,
حَتَّىuntil بَداappeared فَلَقُthe first light of الصَّباحِmorning كَجَحْفَلٍlike a great army
حَتَّى بَدا فَلَقُ الصَّباحِ كَجَحْفَلٍ
راياتُهُits banners رَنْكُthe emblem of الْمَليكِthe king الأَشْرَفِal-Ashraf
راياتُهُ رَنْكُ الْمَليكِ الأَشْرَفِ
until daybreak appeared like a great army
Until the dawn appeared like an unfurled flag,
whose banners bear the emblem of King al-Ashraf.
Its banners the hems of the noblest king.
مَلِكٌa king بَياضُthe whiteness of يَمينِهِhis right hand لِسَمِيِّهِhis namesake's
مَلِكٌ بَياضُ يَمينِهِ لِسَمِيِّهِ
مُوسىMusa وَمَنْظَرُهُand his appearance البَديعُwondrous لِيوسُفِYusuf's
مُوسى وَمَنْظَرُهُ البَديعُ لِيوسُفِ
A king whose right hand's whiteness is that of his namesake,
A king whose right hand's whiteness belongs to Moses,
Musa, and whose wondrous beauty is that of Yusuf.
And his wondrous visage belongs to Joseph.
تَشْتامُsurvey ظاهِرَهُhis outward form العُيُونُthe eyes وَتَقْتَديand take guidance
تَشْتامُ ظاهِرَهُ العُيُونُ وَتَقْتَدي
مِنْهُfrom him العُقولُthe minds بِسِرِّthrough the secret of مُعْجِزَةٍa miracle خِفِِيhidden
مِنْهُ العُقولُ بِسِرِّ مُعْجِزَةٍ خِفِِي
Eyes survey his outward form, and guidance is drawn
Eyes are dazzled by his apparent self,
by minds from him, through a miracle's hidden secret.
And minds follow, awed by his secret miracle.
مُتَناقِضُcontradictory in الأوصَافِqualities طَوْدُa mountain of مَهابَةٍawe
مُتَناقِضُ الأوصَافِ طَوْدُ مَهابَةٍ
رَسَختْbecame firmly rooted رَكانَتُهُhis solidity وَغُصْنُand a branch of تَعَطُّفِtenderness
رَسَختْ رَكانَتُهُ وَغُصْنُ تَعَطُّفِ
His qualities are opposites: a mountain of awe,
Contradictory descriptions - a towering grandeur
whose solidity is rooted fast, and a branch of tenderness.
Fixed by his firmness, and a branch of gentleness.
وَيُريكَand he shows you مِنْfrom آرائِهِhis counsels وَعَطائِهِand his giving
وَيُريكَ مِنْ آرائِهِ وَعَطائِهِ
تَحْريرُthe precision of نِحْريرٍan expert وَبَذْلَand the giving of مُجَزِّفِa giver without measure
تَحْريرُ نِحْريرٍ وَبَذْلَ مُجَزِّفِ
And he shows you, in his counsels and his giving,
And he shows you, in his principles and gifts,
an expert's precision and a prodigal's generosity.
The style of an eloquent poem, a pouring of bounty.
وَعَلَىand upon مُتونِthe backs of الْجُرْدِthe sleek steeds أَظْلَمُmost unjust ظالِمٍan oppressor
وَعَلَى مُتونِ الْجُرْدِ أَظْلَمُ ظالِمٍ
وَعَلَىand upon سَريرِthe throne of الْمُلْكِkingship أَنْصَفُmost just مُنْصِفِone who is fair
وَعَلَى سَريرِ الْمُلْكِ أَنْصَفُ مُنْصِفِ
And on the backs of sleek steeds, the most unjust of oppressors;
To the backs of oppressors, the darkest darkness,
and on the royal throne, the fairest of the fair.
To the throne of kingship, the fairest justice.
فَحَريقُso the blaze of جَمْرَةِthe ember of سَيْفِهِhis sword لِلْمُعْتَديfor the aggressor
فَحَريقُ جَمْرَةِ سَيْفِهِ لِلْمُعْتَدي
وَرَحيقُand the nectar of خَمْرَةِthe wine of سَيْبِهِhis bounty لِلْمُعْتَفِيfor the petitioner
وَرَحيقُ خَمْرَةِ سَيْبِهِ لِلْمُعْتَفِي
So the blaze of his sword's ember is for the aggressor,
So the ember of his sword is a blaze for the transgressor,
and the nectar of his bounty's wine is for the petitioner.
And the wine of his temper a gift for the reverent.
ياO بَدْرُfull moon تَزْعُمُyou claim أَنْto تُقاسَbe compared بِوَجْهِهِwith his face
يا بَدْرُ تَزْعُمُ أَنْ تُقاسَ بِوَجْهِهِ
وَعَلَىand upon جَبيِنكَyour brow كُلْفَةُthe blemish of المُتَكَلِّفِthe pretender
وَعَلَى جَبيِنكَ كُلْفَةُ المُتَكَلِّفِ
O full moon, you claim to be compared with his face,
O moon, you claim to match his face -
while your brow bears a pretender's blemish.
Yet on your brow is the burden of pretentiousness!
ياO غَيْمُcloud تَطْمَعُyou hope أَنْto تَكونَbe كَكَفِّهِlike his palm
يا غَيْمُ تَطْمَعُ أَنْ تَكونَ كَكَفِّهِ
كَلاَّcertainly not وَأَنْتَand you مِنَamong الْجَهامِthe rainless clouds المُخْلِفِpromise-breaking
كَلاَّ وَأَنْتَ مِنَ الْجَهامِ المُخْلِفِ
O cloud, you hope to be like his palm—
O cloud, you hope to equal his palm -
no! You are one of the rainless clouds that break their promise.
No! You are one who fails to keep his promise.
جَنَحَتْinclined مُلُوكُthe kings of المُشْرِكينَthe polytheists لِسَلْمِهِtoward peace with him
جَنَحَتْ مُلُوكُ المُشْرِكينَ لِسَلْمِهِ
فَأجابَso he assented مُتَّبِعاًfollowing لِنَصِّaccording to the text of الْمُصْحَفِthe Qur'an
فَأجابَ مُتَّبِعاً لِنَصِّ الْمُصْحَفِ
The kings of the polytheists inclined toward peace with him,
The kings of the pagans folded to his peace,
so he assented, following the text of the Qur'an.
And he responded, following the Book's text.
وَيَعِزُّand is hard ذاكَthat عَلَىupon ظُباهُhis sword-edges وَخَيْلِهِand his horses
وَيَعِزُّ ذاكَ عَلَى ظُباهُ وَخَيْلِهِ
وَبِرَغْمِand despite آنافِthe noses of الرِّماحِthe spears الرُّعَّفِblood-dripping
وَبِرَغْمِ آنافِ الرِّماحِ الرُّعَّفِ
And that is hard upon his sword-edges and his horses,
And that one disdains their knights and cavalry,
and against the will of the spears with bleeding noses.
Despite the swaying of their feathered lances.
إِمْهالُa respite granted by مُقْتَدِرٍone mighty لِيَوْمٍuntil a day نارُهُits fire
إِمْهالُ مُقْتَدِرٍ لِيَوْمٍ نارُهُ
أَبَداًever بِغَيْرِwithout دِمائِهِمْtheir blood لاnot تَنْطَفِيis quenched
أَبَداً بِغَيْرِ دِمائِهِمْ لا تَنْطَفِي
A respite granted by one mighty, until a day whose fire
A delay by the Able One, till a day whose fire
will never be quenched without their blood.
Will never die without their blood being spilt.
زَأَرَتْroared أُسُودُthe lions of كُماتِهِhis armored champions وَتَفَسَّحَتْand broadened
زَأَرَتْ أُسُودُ كُماتِهِ وَتَفَسَّحَتْ
خُطواتُهُمْtheir strides فِيin ضيقِthe narrowness of ذاكَthat الْمَوْقِفِbattlefield
خُطواتُهُمْ فِي ضيقِ ذاكَ الْمَوْقِفِ
The lions among his armored champions roared, and lengthened
The lions of his darkness roared, and their steps strode
their strides in that cramped battlefield.
In the confinement of that narrow pass.
فَكَأنَّنيso it is as though I بِجِيادِهِwith his steeds قَدalready أَصْبَحَتْhave become
فَكَأنَّني بِجِيادِهِ قَد أَصْبَحَتْ
سُوراًa bracelet لمِعْصَمِfor the wrist of كُلِّevery سُورٍwall مُشْرِفِtowering
سُوراً لمِعْصَمِ كُلِّ سُورٍ مُشْرِفِ
So I can almost see his steeds, now become
It was as if his steeds became walls, protecting
a bracelet around the wrist of every towering wall.
Every honoured wall from alarm.
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I بِدِيارِهِمْwith their lands قَدْalready بُدِّلَتْwere given in exchange
وَكَأَنَّني بِدِيارِهِمْ قَدْ بُدِّلَتْ
صَوْتَthe voice of المُؤّذِّنِthe muezzin مِنin place of خُوارِthe lowing of الأسْقُفِthe bishop
صَوْتَ المُؤّذِّنِ مِن خُوارِ الأسْقُفِ
And I can almost see their lands, now given
It was as if their homes were changed, the call to prayer
the muezzin's call in place of the bishop's lowing.
Replacing the clamour rising from their roofs.
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I بِسِبائِهِمْwith their captives وَيَديand my hand عَلَىupon
وَكَأَنَّني بِسِبائِهِمْ وَيَدي عَلَى
بَيْضاءَa fair-skinned woman مُتْرَفَةٍpampered وَأَبْيَضَand a fair-skinned man مُتْرَفِpampered
بَيْضاءَ مُتْرَفَةٍ وَأَبْيَضَ مُتْرَفِ
And I can almost see their captives, with my hand upon
It was as if their captives were in my hands -
a fair-skinned, pampered woman and a fair-skinned, pampered man.
Luxurious white ones and purest white ones.
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I بِكَwith you قَدْalready طَلَعْتَyou have risen عَلَيْهِمُupon them
وَكَأَنَّني بِكَ قَدْ طَلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمُ
كَالشَّمْسِlike the sun فِيin الشَّرَفِexaltation الّذيwhich لَمْnot يُكْسَفِbe eclipsed
كَالشَّمْسِ فِي الشَّرَفِ الّذي لَمْ يُكْسَفِ
And I can almost see you, risen over them
It was as if I saw you rise over them
like the sun in its exaltation, never eclipsed.
Like the sun in its unmatched brilliance.
إِنْif كانَthere is مَهْديٌّa Mahdi فَأنتَthen you هُوَhe الّذيwho
إِنْ كانَ مَهْديٌّ فَأنتَ هُوَ الّذي
أَحْيَيْتَyou revived دينَthe faith of المُصْطَفىthe Chosen One وَالمُصْطَفيand the Chooser
أَحْيَيْتَ دينَ المُصْطَفى وَالمُصْطَفي
If there is a Mahdi, then you are he who
If there is a Mahdi, then you are the one
revived the faith of the Chosen One and the Chooser.
Who revived the Prophet's faith and the Prophet.
Sol 6.1